Synodontis velifer = Synodontis eupterus ?

DeLBoD · Post by **DeLBoD** » 10 Jun 2003, 11:51

Hi.
Some of you might think this a real n00bie question but.

Is Synodontis.velifer a German name for Synodontis eupterus or are they different species?
I though this at first but now I see the same two fish for sale in the same price listings of many LFS around Europe.
Fishbase.org even has them listed as different fish but I canâ??t see the differences.
Thanks.

Post by **Silurus** » 10 Jun 2003, 12:00

No, they are separate species. The only thing in common for the two species is the high dorsal-fin. However, the dorsal fin in S. velifer has only the first two rays greatly elongate, not four or five as in S. eupterus. Synodontis velifer also lacks extensions on the fin rays (they are long, but don't have the filaments like in S. eupterus), and the color pattern consists of much larger spots than you see in S. eupterus.

DeLBoD · Post by **DeLBoD** » 10 Jun 2003, 12:12

Would you say this was S. velifer then?

A repeated question about ID sorry, but it looks a lot different to my other S. eupterus.

http://website.lineone.net/~delbod/upcat.JPG

Post by **Silurus** » 10 Jun 2003, 12:20

That's an eupterus with some kind of dorsal-fin abnormality (the fin rays look kinked and are posibly the result of incomplete regrowth after damage). The spots on S. velifer are the size of those you see in S. decorus, and the dorsal fin would be much more triangular.

DeLBoD · Post by **DeLBoD** » 10 Jun 2003, 12:30

I wouldnâ??t know about injuries as I rescued it from a 10 gall tank with no heating and filtering just 1 air stone, my friend was glad to give me the fish because it was eating his guppies at the time.

Thanks.

Post by **Silurus** » 10 Jun 2003, 12:38

It may have been bad water conditions/poor nutrition thet led to the growth deformity.

DeLBoD · Post by **DeLBoD** » 10 Jun 2003, 15:07

Any chance of S. velifer in the Cat-eLog soon?

Post by **Silurus** » 10 Jun 2003, 15:34

Not likely. It's very rarely imported (if at all), as I've never seen one in the trade before.

DeLBoD · Post by **DeLBoD** » 10 Jun 2003, 15:46

Shame that. It also seems all the pictures I have seen on the web are in fact S. eupterus.

Chrysichthys · Post by **Chrysichthys** » 10 Jun 2003, 18:27

I don't know about elsewhere, but here juvenile S. eupterus are sold as S. velifer.